Author's Note: :) Hello. It's been a little while, but here is Chapter 9. I hope you like it :).
Reviewer Responses:
girlonthem00n: Lol, hi back! I wish I was busy with school, but alas I took a semester off and have been working practically full-time at an awful job... Anyways, glad you were able to pick the story back up and still enjoy it :). Thanks for the review; hope you enjoy the chapter!
Ladyvelveeta: Lol, love the name ;). Aww...you liked the title :) Thankee :) You don't want to know why I chose it, lol. Good titlegood fic...hmm, can't say I've had the same experiences as you lol! The languages Pietro and Wanda speak are Romanian and Sinte-Romany. No, I didn't make the languages up, though it would have been really cool if I did :). Thanks for reviewing! Glad you enjoy the story, and I hope you like the new chapter! Take care!
Kaitourei: Hey, Miss Lady. How you be? Lol! Glad you like the characterization. I really kinda struggled with it, since I'm very behind on Marvel comics and such. Anyways, thanks for reviewing and take care! Hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Zero-Vision: :). Lol, that's the first poor Todd, I've gotten. Thanks for the review! Take care and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Burnbadart: Teddy bear at heart, huh? Suuuure you are.... looks away. Lol, Fred grunts, eats food, and plays 'Mommy' in my story :). And yes, he talks in full sentences and makes speeches, lol :). Sorry for the lack of updates. I had this chapter and the earlier ones already written before I started posting this story, and sadly to say the reason I stalled so long is because I have a few pages more written after the end of this chapter and nothing else. I was waiting until I had more :(. We'll see what happens...lol. Thanks for reviewing, as always, and take care! I hope you enjoy the chapter!
DemonRogue13: Thanks! Take care and I hope you like the chapter!
Nessie6: Lol, I think Pietro is just scrawny for his age personally. Yeah, Mystique did need a butt-kicking, lol, but I don't think what Wanda did constituted as one. I'll have to do something else to her later on ;). Aww... Give Freddy the benefit of the doubt. Driving isn't that hard, even if you are a little heavy ;). I agree with you about not letting Pietro drive... It would be a cold day in Hell, before I got in that car. I don't think Todd could reach the pedals of the car and be able to see over the dashboard actually, lol! Yeah, I know about the Inuyasha thing. You're so silly :). The guy who does Kouga's voice does Wolverine (and Duo Maxwell on Gundam Wing, if you're familiar with that :). Well, thank you for reviewing. I enjoy long reviews :) Take care and I hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 9
Lance counted the white tiles of the ceiling as he listened to the quick beeping of a heart monitor and the hiss of oxygen pouring from a tank into a mask that covered Pietro's nose and mouth. McCoy said he wasn't taking in enough air when he breathed. Pietro laid on his back with his head slightly elevated by pillows. He mumbled through the mask, saying things in a strange garble of English, Romanian, and Sinte. Lance had given up trying to speak to him, since he wasn't sure if he was being understood. He instead held the hand free of IV's.
Poor kid. Lance couldn't help but feel guilty. His mind couldn't grasp the concept that Pietro would have fallen into this state even if he hadn't gone on the mall mission. Maybe if he'd made Pietro stay home from school and skip out on practices. All he had to do was stand up to Mystique, but... he'd been selfish. If he had told her no and rejected any attempts circumvent his final decision, she might have left them again, and then they would be stuck in the same rut they had been in before. Lance didn't think he could handle that again. His selfishness had nearly cost him a brother.
There was no prize worth that.
But... if he looked at it in Fred's light, it was a blessing in disguise. Not only was Pietro now getting the best treatment he possibly could, but they were all being given a second chance at Xavier's Institute. Lance didn't necessarily want to be there, but the kids in this group never had it hard. None of them would ever have to worry about many of the things that had become second nature to Lance in their pampered lives. He wanted another bite of the filling sensation of being carefree. He rubbed his sour stomach with the hand not holding Pietro's.
He had thrown up after Todd and Freddy left. He had locked himself inside the tiny bathroom in Pietro's room for 15 minutes, ignoring the inquiring knocks from Grey and Summers. When he'd finally come out of the bathroom, the room was empty aside from Pietro's still form. Lance was grateful for that. He wanted to be alone for a while.
Lance grimaced at the burning pain in his stomach and wondered if McCoy kept any Alka-Seltzer nearby. He frowned, knowing that his stomach problems probably weren't due to indigestion. With his rotten luck, he had an ulcer or better yet a tumor!
That would be nice.
Lance jumped as Pietro burst into a coughing fit that rattled his fragile frame so hard Lance thought he'd shatter. The silver-haired boy moaned between coughs and rolled toward Lance. His blue eyes opened a crack. "L... Lance?"
"Pietro? You're awake?" Lance stared at his friend. Pietro took in an audible breath and nodded before he was assaulted with another bout of severe coughing. His pale hands grabbed at the oxygen mask strapped to his face and fought to remove it. Lance immediately helped him with the task, removing the mask and helping Pietro to sit up and rubbing his back.
Lance turned his head from Pietro, when he heard the door open. McCoy had entered the room and was walking toward them holding a small blue basin and a box of tissues.
"Pietro, spit into the basin," McCoy said evenly, gently resting the basin on Pietro's knees. Lance's eyes went wide with fear as Pietro gasped, choked and finally gagged into the basin.
"Oh God... what's happening to him?" Lance demanded. Pietro had never sounded that bad at the boarding house. Just what was McCoy giving him?
"Nothing bad, Mr. Alvers. His lungs are filled with fluid and they are working to drain themselves," McCoy said, patting Pietro's back firmly. "The coughing is good. He would drown, if he did not."
Lance gulped at the thought of that as his momentary anger subsided. Drowning from within had to be one of the scariest experiences a person could have. You couldn't kick and splash to get to the surface to draw breath, because there was no surface. Pietro was slowly suffocating.
"It sounds pretty scary-- I know-- but believe me, it's helping him. I've given him an expectorant to loosen the congestion."
Lance frowned. He hoped the blue beast wasn't going to start talking in medical jargon to him again. He hadn't understood it the first time and he wasn't in the mind set to go for a second round.
Pietro's fit ended in hoarse sobs and Lance did his best to wrap his arms around the other boy's thin body, ignoring how uncomfortable it was. Pietro was so skinny, clutching him tightly was like sleeping without a cushion beneath your back.
"You're ok, Speedy. You're gonna be just fine," Lance murmured to the younger boy as he whimpered.
"L...Lance... Cînd făcut tu a lua aici?"
"Pietro, I can't understand you. Can you try to speak English?" Lance asked slowly, resting his head in Pietro's silver hair.
"I.... I wasn't speaking English? Sînt supa– I am... sorry. Better?"
"Yeah, kid," Lance smiled in relief.
"Why am I having such a problem?" Pietro moaned.
"It's the fever," McCoy spoke up, causing both Lance and Pietro to jump. They had forgotten he was in the room.
"As it recedes, your mind will clear. Lance, could you...?" McCoy held a syringe filled with clear liquid. He motioned to Pietro's IV and Lance nodded subtly. McCoy needed Lance to distract Pietro while he gave him more medicine via IV. Pietro's head was currently on Lance's shoulder, and Lance intended to keep it there.
"Are Freddy and Todd here?" Pietro asked; his voice and body seemed devoid of all strength.
"They were here for a little bit, then they went back tot he boarding house. Fred's going to bring some of our things in the morning."
"You're going to stay here with me?" Lance could hear the soft smile in Pietro's tone.
"Yeah. Did you think I'd leave you here alone? I gotta make sure the X-Geeks take care of you right, Pi." Lance rubbed his back.
"Thank you," Pietro sighed and was silent. The slight change in his raspy breathing indicated that he'd fallen asleep.
"All done," McCoy said, stepping away from the bed with an empty syringe.
"How do you think he's doing?" Lance frowned, easing Pietro back onto his propped up pillows.
McCoy disposed of the needle then looked at Lance thoughtfully. "If there are no more outburst like the one he had when he first got here, I think he'll be out of danger tomorrow."
Lance nodded as his gut clenched as he was reminded that all of the monitors that beeped and made strange noises were there because there was a real chance Pietro's systems would fail. McCoy gently strapped the oxygen mask back in place. "I'll be here monitoring him all night, Lance. You don't have to stay awake. I insist you get some rest; I can set you up in the room next to this one."
Lance shook his head vigorously. "I stay with Pietro."
McCoy sighed, shaking his head. "Alright Lance, but this cannot be a long a time arrangement. Would you like something to settle your stomach?"
Lance blinked in surprise. How had he...? Lance realized he had been massaging his middle again, "Uh...yeah. Thanks... Dr. McCoy."
"I'll be right back."
People actually lived in places like this? Wanda wondered as she and Fred pulled into the driveway. Fred slowly reached out to touch an intercom on his side, but before he could speak the gate began to swing open.
"Guess they know we're here," Fred said, and Wanda rolled her eyes. She couldn't wait to get out of the car with, 'Genius.'
Fred drove on through the gate and Wanda hopped out as soon as the jeep stopped. Fred followed after her at a leisurely pace. The front door was open and an older man with a gruff look on his face stood staring at them expectantly. "Professor Xavier told me you'd be coming, so I thought I'd be nice and open the gate. I'm guessing you're the witch the kids have been talking about since they got back from the mall?"
Wanda glared at the man as she stepped past him into the house. "Where's my brother?"
The man's brows raised, "Quicksilver's your brother?"
Fred entered behind her and closed the door.
Wanda narrowed her eyes.
"Hey, I'm doing you a favor, kid; the least you can do is show a little respect."
"He's my brother. Now where can I find him?" Wanda tried to lighten her tone. The man grunted and began to walk.
"Follow me," he said.
"Who's that?"
"It's the Witch from the mall! What's she doing here?"
"The Blob's back?"
"Who's that girl?"
Wanda ignored the voices she could hear floating from various corners of the house. She concentrated instead on following the man that was taking her to her brother.
She was led into what looked like a hospital wing and she shivered. She supposed hospitals would always send chills down her spine now. The man opened a door and poked his head inside.
Wanda heard Lance's voice.
"You guys got a visitor," the man said huskily. He stepped out of the door frame. "Don't cause trouble."
Wanda suppressed a growl before entering the room. Her heart leapt into her throat and her stomach plummeted to her knees at the sight of her brother lying so still with an oxygen mask strapped to his face and tubes and wires attached to him.
"What did you do to him?" Wanda's wild eyes landed on Lance, who gasped at her and jumped in front of Pietro's bed, blocking him from her view.
"Just back off, Wanda. You ain't getting past me!"
Wanda rolled her eyes at Lance, wanting to hex him out of her way, but the boy was standing much too close to her brother. She would not take the chance of hurting Pietro, not when he was defenseless. "I'm not here to hurt my brother."
Lance looked at her dubiously.
He was shaking, Wanda noticed. Why?
It was then that she saw just how pale and tired the boy looked. He was determined, but knew he would lose to her. Why was he putting himself in harm's way... for Pietro?
"What do you want then?" Lance asked her. She could feel his tenseness. He would attack her if he felt he had to; she was sure of it.
"To talk to him," Wanda said simply. She frowned when Lance still didn't move away.
"Why?'
"Because he's my brother and it's time!" Wanda tried not to shout; she really did, but Lance was trying her patience. He was like a mother wolf protecting her cub.
Lance tilted his head a bit and studied her. "He's asleep."
"When he wakes up then," Wanda hissed. "What happened? What's wrong with him?"
Lance blinked, seeming surprised at her sudden concern. "Wanda, what do you care...?"
"He's my brother!" Wanda did shout then. The room rattled a bit before she could calm down.
Lance held up a hand in peace. "But you weren't even talking to him this afternoon. What made you decide that you need to talk to him now? Did you get your change of heart after someone told you how sick he's gotten?"
Wanda frowned, shaking her head. "I made my decision earlier, but then he never came home." She took a step toward the bed and Lance moved aside, going back to the chair he'd been sitting in when she'd entered.
"What's wrong with him?" Wanda stood at the foot of the bed staring at Pietro. He was so thin and fragile. She didn't try to touch him, afraid to shatter him for a moment.
"He's got some kind of pneumonia. It's really kicking his ass," Lance said softly.
Slowly she walked to the opposite side of the bed from Lance and stood over her brother. His silver hair was matted with sweat and damp tendrils curled across his forehead in elf-locks. Tenderly she brushed them aside with the knuckles of her right hand, flinching at the heat that met her curled fingers.
"Dr. McCoy said he should be better in the morning," Lance told her. "He's been really weird tonight, coming in and out and stuff like that. He doesn't even speak English most of the time, so nobody can understand him."
Wanda gave a tiny half-smile. Pietro always did have the hardest time figuring out where he was and who he was with when he was ill or very groggy when they had been little. Fortunately, it didn't happen very often, and his illnesses usually only lasted a day and were hardly ever serious. She felt a tiny twinge of fear at that thought. He'd been sick with this thing for over a week, and he was steadily getting worse in her eyes.
She started a bit when Pietro stirred under her hand.
"Wanda?" He rasped. Blue eyes opened and shaky hands reached for the clear mask over his mouth and nose and began pulling at it. Wanda frowned at his actions and glanced at Lance who was watching them both with interest.
"Is...is it ok for him to..."
Lance smirked at her stuttering and reached over to help Pietro with the mask. "I don't think he likes it much."
"Wanda? De... ce... esti... tu aici?" Why are you here?
Wanda blinked. Romanian. She hadn't heard the language in years, but strangely she'd understood what he had said. He wanted to know why she was there. Would he understand English if she spoke it back to him?
"See, I told you he doesn't speak English," Lance commented wryly.
Wanda rolled her eyes at him and suddenly, words came to her. "Eu am venit la spre a vedea tu. Esti tu perfect? Sînte nelinste." I came to see you. Are you all right? I'm worried.
Lance's mouth scraped the floor.
"Sînte escarfa." I'm scared.
Wanda stroked his hair gingerly and searched for a place to sit. Finding no chair on her side of the bed, she remained standing. He was afraid, and he had every right to be. His hyperactive system should have ejected the virus a few hours after it had invaded.
"Tu vei a fi fin," Wanda said soothingly. You'll be fine.
"A face nu plecare eu. A face pe plac la?" Stay with me. Please?
"Vointa a voi nu," Wanda assured him that she was going to stay with him.
"Thank....you," Pietro mumbled, letting himself fall slip back into dreams.
"You're welcome," Wanda whispered back. She walked around the other side of the bed and took the empty chair next to Lance's to drag it back around to the other side. She took Pietro's thin hand in hers, ignoring the IV, and locked her fingers around his. When he woke again, he would feel her and know she was still there. If he was coherent, they would talk, and Wanda shuddered about what the outcome of that talk may be. She didn't want to hate her brother like she hated their father, but she could if she needed too. But for the past few days and the moments now just holding his hand...
Please don't make me have to hate you Pietro. Please...
Author's Note: :) Well? Let me know; please review!